Tips For Finding Inspiration

Posted on | Tuesday, July 12, 2011 | No Comments


When you're starting out as a crime writer, every little bit of inspiration helps. The smallest detail can turn into a crime: a newspaper headline, the jock in the track pants and runners with his iPad sitting next to you at Starbucks. Here's what works for me:

People around me. Take for instance the jock. If he's on the phone, discreetly listen to the conversation. Is he having an argument with his wife or girlfriend? Or a heated discussion with his boss? Either of these conversations could be fodder for a fictitious crime--be it murder, fraud or kidnapping.


Newspaper or magazine headlines. "Wife kills husband for forcing her to sleep with friend". "Five teenagers get shot by police in robbery gone wrong". The newspaper is full of headlines, stories of real people involved in real crimes. What if the wife didn't kill the husband, but decided to take revenge, that's a story with a potential twist. Or what if the teenagers shot a police man during the robbery and got away with it?


If that doesn't work for you, scan the headlines in other sections of the newspaper, such as the business section, entertainment and lifestyle sections. Any of the people featured in the lifestyle section, such as celebrities, politicians and artistes can be a character for your short story or novel. It only takes a little imagination to turn them into what you want them to be. Even lifestyle magazines can be a source of inspiration, however 'fluffy' you perceive them to be.


Change the ending. All the good writing websites recommend that new authors practice writing by rewriting the ending of their favorite short story, novel or even TV show episode. There's a reason they do this--it works.


Write as often as you can. P.D. James says she writes first thing in the morning and early too. Some successful writers like Shi-Li Kow (not a crime writer, but a successful short story writer this side of the globe) hold down a full-time jobs and still find time to write. If I remember correctly, she said in an interview with a local daily that she writes for half an hour each day. If that's all you have, make the most of it and of every word you put down on paper.



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